Draft key retainer



y 9, 1953 E. H. 'B'LATTNER DRAFT KEY RETAINER Filed July 8; 1949 FIG. 2

Inventor: Emil H. Blattner his Attorney Patented May 19,1953

End! if. eta Buffalo, N. Y., assignor to The Symington-Gould Corporation, Depew, N. Y., a

corporation of Maryland Application July 8, 1949, Serial No. 103,675

This inventionrelates to a draft key retainer and more particularly to a type thereof which is designed to be locked positively in position.

A primary object of the invention is the provision of a positive lock in a draft key retainer to thereby prevent its accidental or unwarranted loss or removal during service. f

Another object of the invention is the provision of increased bearing areas in a draft key retainer so that appreciable bearing surfaces or 3 Claims. (01. 85-8.1)

a cheek plate I for a predetermined distance depending entirely upon the prearranged or permitted compressive travel of a draft gear. The draft key is formed on one end thereof (not shown) with an integral head which prevents displacement of the, draft key .in one direction areas will be presented to other components and thereby materially project the .serviceability of the retainer.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved draft key retainer which can execute only a very limited rotary motion and therebyprevent extremities of a head portion thereof from contacting associated structure, which if caused to exist would impart .a lifting action to the retainer and further cause damage to or failureof the retainer. I

A further object of the invention is toprovide an improved draft key retainer which is ofrelatively light weight, positive in action, easily manufactured and inexpensive when compared with analogous structures of the prior art and in accepted usage. A

The above and numerous other objects of the invention will becomeapparent from the succeeding description when considered together with the accompanying drawing, wherein;

Figure 1 is a plan view ,of an embodiment of the invention shown associated in operable position with a portion of a draft key.

Figure 2 is an elevational view takenalong the lines 22 of Figure 1, looking .in thedirection of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view taken along the lines 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the diifec tion of the arrows.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, wherein like reference. characters designate like parts, the numeral I is employed to indicate, in a somewhat general manner, an arrangement exemplifying a form of the present invention. The arrangement includes a draft key 2 only a portion of which is illustrated because it, in and of itself, forms no part of the present invention. It may, however, be well to set out herein, for the complete understanding of the invention, that the draft key is primarily employed in railway vehicles and is arranged to extend transversely through a center sill construction (not shown) to function as a force transmitting medium from a relatedpart of a draft rigging (not shown) to the center sill construction. This draft key can be, if desired, arranged to travel in a slot 3 of only. Inorder that the draftkey may be assembled with related parts thereof to. assist in forming a draft arrangement, a free end So thereof presents no obstructions and therefore it is necessary to associate some device with this otherwise free end so thatthe draft key may at all times, be retained in operable position.

, Toward the accomplishment of this last named feature, the device hereinabove referred to, takes the form of a removable. draft key retainer and it is this last named component that has been herein improved over the many devices of an analogous nature to be found in the prior art.

The draft key retainer as improved herein is designated by the generalreference characteni and comprises a shank 6 anda head 7, the latter of which crosses the shank at right angles thereto and is formed so asjto be an integral part at one or an upper end thereof. A forging lends itselfadmirably well to this retainer design or configuration. Theshank. 6 has an intermediate portion 8 thereof formed as a substantially true cylinder so as to fit into a suitably arranged aperture 9 in the draft key. By this arrangement in the center construction rather loosely and therefore is arranged to move ,or be moved transversely of the center sills as well as execute move ments which will dispose the draft key at an oblique angle to the center sillsor what is com% monly termed the longitudinal center line of the car (not shown). Because of these possible movements. the draft key retainer should. be arranged to pivot about its vertical axis but only within predetermined limits for otherwise, if the key assumes a position whereby thehead I thereof is directed transversely of the car as opposed to longitudinally of thecar as illustrated, the head then will be in a position where the boss 4a of the cheek plate 4 will foul the retainer head or exert a lifting action on the retainer to shear the holding means thereof and resultin the loss or accidental displacement of the retainer. Also if the entire shank of the retainer is made to conform to a substantially cylindrical body or member throughout its length. or height then onlya line contact will be presented betweenfthe cheek plate boss and retainer shank. In order to present an appreciable bearing area between the retainer and cheek plate, the shank, above and below the intermediate or central portion, has formed on what may be termed the inside or inboard side thereof, flat or plain surfaces or faces 10. These surfaces are inset or set back with respect to the substantially cylindrical portion and therefore are arranged to not only present adequate clearance between the retainer and cheek plate boss to afford ample maneuverability of the draft key during service but also present adequate wearing or bearing surfaces on the retainer for engagement with the cheek plate boss.

the related end of the draft key. This pre-arranged position of the stem and finger will permit the introduction of the shank into the aper- Another distinct advantage gained by this so far described construction or association is that the present draft key retainers approvedas a standard for all American railroads by the Association of American Railroads, may be altered to gain all the advantages flowing from the present structure. The retainer head is also provided with a fiat or plain inboard face 1! which is in vertical alignment with the faces to thereby permit the faces 50 to function as intended and also in crease the bearing or guiding area between. the retainer and cheek plate boss. v

Many devices have. been heretofore suggested in order to maintain the retainer in an operable position, the most simple expedient being the insertion of an ordinary cotter pin (not shown) in an opening l2 formed transversely of the shank at a location at an end opposed to the one occupied by the head 1. This practice, while in general usage, is extremely impractical because of the shearing effects on the cotter during service and the ultimate complete shearing of the cotter pin and subsequent detrimental loss or displacement of the retainer. The device herein proposed and believed .far superior to the use of the ordinary cotter pin is characterized by a locking pin l3 which may, as desired, be formed of commercial cylindrical rod material having a circular cross-section but it will be understood that this invention is not to be sci-minutely or necessarily limited. An axial bore [4 is drilled or otherwise formed in the shank to extend partly thereinto and completely through the head. This bore is of a size or diameter so as to neatly accommodate a terminal leg of the locking pin which is housed in the bore. Communicating with the axial bore is an open kerf or trough-shaped recess 1.6 extending transversely of the head and arranged to accommodate a horizontally directed arm H of the lock ing pin which is cradled in the recess. While not absolutely necessary for the successful carrying out of the teachings of the present invention but merely as a precautionary measure, welds l8 are deposited in the recess to further bind or secure the locking pin to the head and prevent absolutely its separation therefrom.

The arm of the locking pin is extended outwardly of or horizontally from the retainer head in a direction away from the cheek plate or ture 9 after which hammer blows at the junctureof the stem and finger will force the finger particularly, inwardly toward the shank to underlie the draft key and prevent accidental displacement of the retainer.

From the above it will be noted that various changes and alterations may be made to the illustrated and described specie of the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a draft key retainer, the combination of, a body portion comprising a shank having a of said shank at each end of said intermediate center sill until it reaches a point beyond the adjacent limit or. the previously mentioned free end of the draft key as clearly indicated in the drawing. The pin arm then merges into .a downwardly or vertically directed intermediate or connecting stem I9 which passes through the extended horizontal plane of the draft key so portion and including said crosshead presenting spaced fiat coplanar surfaces inset from said intermediate portion disposed parallel to the axis of said retainer, and locking means connected to said retainer for securing said retainer to said draft key.

3. In a draft key retainer, the combination of, a body portion comprising a shank having a crosshead at one end thereof, an intermediate portion of said shank being substantially round to fit into an aperture of said draft key, areas of said shank at each end of said intermediate portion and including said crosshead presenting fiat coplanar surfaces inset from said intermediate portion and disposed parallel to the axis of said retainer, a locking pin secured to said retainer, and a bendable portion of said pin outstanding from said head and arranged to be urged toward said shank to underlie said draft key for preventing separation of said draft key and retainer.

EMIL H. BIATTNER.

References Cited in the file of this patent v UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 470,507 Risser Mar. 8, 1892 601,560 Gallager Mar. 29, 1898 752,698 McCulloch Feb. 28, 1904 995,066 Ingraham June 13, 1911 1,097,007 Dath May 19, 1914 1,448,692 McDermitt Mar. 13, 1923 1,650,772 Shipley Nov. 29, 1927 1,679,607 Hoerr Aug. 7, 1928 1,685,164: Johnson Sept. 25, 19.28 2,029,868 Harbert Feb. 4, 1936 2,035,883 Herbert Mar. 31, 1986 

